Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club

Vale's Victorious Vikings and Valiant Volleyers

Vikings 3 Volleyers 0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-14)

Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club's first team Vale Vikings survived spirited resistance from second string Vale Volleyers and made their power advantage count in a 3-0 win (25-9, 25-16, 25-14) in the intra-club derby match in the Herts League at Sportspace Berkhamsted. A predictable result, but Vikings showed Volleyers respect from the start, and did not treat it as a training match with good consistent serving and steady controlled play throughout.

With last season's team-mates facing one another across the net, and a number of new recruits for both sides still settling in, both teams were error-prone but Vikings had the greater experience to steady the ship when it mattered and the power to push the boat out. Volleyers' passing unit struggled throughout against Vikings' strong service especially from both setters, close season signing Artur Figlarski and most valuable player Suzanne Kruize. Volleyers' own MVP, middle blocker Ivan Dunleavy snuffed out some attacks but the Viking spiking was too strong especially from recent recruit, outside hitter Emanuele Mazzotta, and veteran utility, Roger Gudge, making his competitive comeback. Volleyers showed glimpses of spirited defence from newcomers Kevin Pistak and Ed Ailsby and aggressive offence from Sid Joshi and took a good lead in the second game following several Viking errors, until Kruize's powerful serving brought Vikings back into contention. The third game was a similar story, with Volleyers battling hard, but the passing unit struggling to give the playmakers a good enough ball to generate attacking options consistently for their offence.

Afterwards, Vikings' captain Chris Seal was pleased with his side's offensive options and variety of attacks, but the team will be working on defensive coordination and elimination of unforced errors to reinforce this season's title challenge. Volleyers' injured player coach Jem Clark recognised the need to transfer his side's undoubted commitment into confidence to increase defensive reliability and offensive aggression.

See also the Vikings' match report and the Volleyers' match report.

As told to Nigel by Chris and Jem.